Overtime

Golf

Knox keeps team tied for the lead

Augusta's Jeff Knox birdied the first four holes to send his team on its way to a second straight 7-under-par 65 and a share of the lead for the second consecutive day of the Southern International Four-Ball Championship.

Knox and partner Steve John¤son of Chattanooga, Tenn., are at 14-under 130 through two rounds of the 72-hole event. Knox had six of the team's eight birdies on Wednesday.

The defending champions are tied with Buddy Marucci of Malvern, Pa., and Mike McCoy of West Des Moines, Iowa, who shot 64 on Wednesday.

The tournament is being played at Emerald Dunes Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Fla.

Hockey

Charlotte Checkers power past Augusta

In Charlotte, N.C., the Augusta Lynx were burned by the power play in a 4-3 loss to the Charlotte Checkers.

Charlotte was three-for-five in power play opportunities, including two in the third period that helped sew up the victory.

Augusta fell behind 2-0 after two periods, but tied the game at 2-2 on goals by Louis Goulet and Eric Johansson. After Charlotte's two third-period power-play goals made it 4-2, Augusta's Matt Dzieduszycki scored a late goal.

College Football

Gamecock coaches' contracts approved

The contracts for newly hired South Carolina football assistants Tyrone Nix , John Thompson and Dave Wommack were approved Wednesday by the university's Board of Trustees.

Thompson's three-year contract as co-defensive coordinator is worth $175,000 per year. Nix's two-year deal as co-defensive coordinator is worth $ 165,000 the first year and $170,000 the second. Wommack's contract as defensive backs coach is worth $150,000 the first year and $156,000 the second.

- South Carolina President Andrew Sorensen said his investigation into the theft of about $18,000 in computer and video equipment from the Williams-Brice Stadium locker room area might take a few more weeks.

The school's athletic department reported "grand larceny of video equipment" with campus police Nov. 23, saying three laptop computers, two video projectors and 12 framed pictures worth about $18,000 were taken from South Carolina's locker room area, according to the police report.

- In Baton Rouge, La., new Louisiana State University head football coach Les Miles will receive a seven-year contract worth $1.25 million annually, plus an additional $200,000 per year in deferred compensation.

NFL

Pennington, Carter miss Jets practice

In Hempstead, N.Y., Jets quarterback Chad Pennington missed practice with a stomach virus, but coach Herman Edwards said his franchise player will be ready for Saturday's playoff game at Pittsburgh.

To make matters worse for New York, backup Quincy Carter went home to Georgia to be with his ailing mother.

- In Eden Prairie, Minn., Randy Moss didn't practice with the Minnesota Vikings because of a sprained right ankle, but he's listed as probable for Sunday's playoff game at Philadelphia.

Also held out of practice were former Silver Bluff standout, strong safety Corey Chavous, who is doubtful with a broken left elbow.

- In Pittsburgh, linebackers Joey Porter and Augusta's Kendrell Bell missed the Pittsburgh Stee¤lers' practice with flulike symptoms.

College Basketball

Pacers reschedule postponed contest

USC Aiken has rescheduled its men and women's doubleheader with Kennesaw State. The games were originally set for Jan. 8. They will now be played on Monday, Feb. 7 at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m.

The Pacers' games were postponed because of safety concerns following the deadly train collision in nearby Graniteville.